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Leinster to open Pro12 campaign in Wales

Defending champions to play the Scarlets on first weekend of new season

Fri, Jul 19, 2013, 12:32Updated: Fri, Jul 19, 2013, 13:20

Matt O’Connor’s first competitive fixture as the new Leinster coach will take place at the Parc Y Scarlets as the defending champions travel to Wales on the opening round of the Rabo Pro12 season.

Leinster take on the Scarlets on the first weekend in September while runners-up Ulster are also in Wales on the opening weekend as they face the Newport-Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Munster and Connacht will both open their campaigns with home fixtures with Munster taking on Edinburgh and Pat Lam’s Connacht afforded a relatively benign start to his tenure with a match against Zebre.

Connacht will host the first Irish derby of the season when they take on Ulster at the Sportsground on the weekend of September 20th-22nd while the first Munster-Leinster clash will take place at Thomond Park on October 4th-6th.

Leinster will be launching a new era at the Parc y Scarlets, with Australian O’Connor now in charge after Joe Schmidt was appointed Ireland coach.

Leinster will have new signings Jimmy Gopperth, who comes in to replace Jonathan Sexton, and Zane Kirchner in their ranks this season while Brian O’Driscoll enters his final season, having agreed a one-year deal in May.

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